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New York Mets: What could have been for David Wright

By David Hill

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: David Wright #5 of the New York Mets looks on from the dugout during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Phillies 10-5. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: David Wright #5 of the New York Mets looks on from the dugout during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Phillies 10-5. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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David Wright had been on a Hall of Fame trajectory. Instead, after being sidelined by over two years with injuries, he will make one final appearance at the end of the season.

There was a time when David Wright was one of the best players in baseball. The New York Mets third baseman was a star built for New York, a true five tool talent at the hot corner. Over his first decade in the majors, he produced a .301/.382/.506 batting line, hitting 222 homers and stealing 183 bases. Wright was a seven time All Star, won two Gold Glove awards, and finished in the top ten of the NL MVP vote four times. Those numbers, as impressive as they were, were accomplished through his age 30 season, leaving hope that he could be a possible Hall of Fame player.

And then, injuries struck. Wright played in 133 games in 2014, but his power was gone, as he hit only eight homers over the course of the season. He played in a combined 75 games over the next two seasons, his spinal problems leaving him unable to get back on the diamond. Now, after two and a half years away from the majors, he will make one final start, going out in front of his hometown fans at Citi Field.

Through it all, Wright had a solid career. That final game notwithstanding, he posted a lifetime .296/.376/.491 batting line, hitting 242 homers, 390 doubles, and stealing 196 bases. Over the course of his 6869 plate appearances, Wright collected 1777 hits, a solid number considering that his career was cut short.

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And yet, one has to wonder what could have been. Had Wright been able to remain healthy, there is the chance that he could have had a chance to join the 300 homer, 300 stolen base club, hypothetically becoming the ninth player in baseball history to reach that fraternity. As he stole at least 15 bases in each of his full seasons when healthy, he may well have gotten the 117 steals he needed after 2013.

It is also interesting to see the players that Wright compared to through his career. Per BaseballReference.com, through age 30, Wright’s most similar player was Scott Rolen. Rolen produced a lifetime .281/.364/.490 batting line with 316 homers and 517 doubles, stealing 118 bases. He was a seven time All Star as well, winning eight Gold Glove awards. With that production, Rolen is considered a potential Hall of Fame player.

That could have been Wright. He may well be winding down his career in 2018, with another year or two to play, putting the final touches on a Hall of Fame resume. The comparison to Rolen may have seemed to be underrating Wright at this point, as he was on the trajectory to be a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

Next. Mets Mount Rushmore. dark

David Wright is getting set to take the field one last time as a member of the New York Mets. In celebrating his career, one has to wonder what might have been.

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